The head of U.S. diplomacy in Cuba, Mike Hammer, received the pre-Humanitarian Award from the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) for his work on the island.
The award was presented this Saturday in Miami during the 52nd annual gala of the organization, according to a report by Mario J. Pentón for Martí Noticias.
In his acceptance speech for the award, the diplomat stated that this recognition "demonstrates that the work we are doing in Cuba is important."
"I am sure that when that change comes, the Cuban people will move forward and recreate that Pearl of the Caribbean that it always should have been," he added.
Hammer promised that "by 2026, Cuba will be free."
"In my more than 37 years as a diplomat, I have never seen an administration so focused on the Western Hemisphere. And that, of course, includes Cuba," he said.
"Cuba is a priority on the America First Foreign Affairs agenda," he added.
The diplomat extended the award to the team at the embassy in Havana, the foreign policy of the Trump administration, and the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"There were supposed acts of repudiation... they shouted insults at us, even hit our car(...), but I want to make it clear: they are not going to intimidate us," he said.
The ambassador expressed pride that, despite the regime's threats, none of the “everyday Cubans” he has visited have refused to see him.
"Not a single person canceled an appointment with me. On the contrary, they were asking me to post the photos, to tell the world what they are experiencing," he assured
Hammer dedicated the award to dissenters, political prisoners, families of the incarcerated, Damas de Blanco, independent journalists, human rights activists, and members of the clergy advocating for change, according to the report from Martí Noticias.
"People are no longer just talking about the possibility of change. They are saying that change is going to happen," he said hopefully.
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